Schedule

Friday 18th August

SATURDAY 19TH August

08:00 Bag drop opens08:30 Athletes' coach boarding opens08:40 Final boarding for athletes' coaches08:45 Coaches depart09:30 Arrival at tracker collection at Hillend: the start is on the Open Access land above the Hillend Campsite09:50 Teams fully assembled at the start10:00 Breca Gower start15:00 First competitors at Breca Gower finish at Mumbles Pier18:00 Presentations at Breca Gower finish at Mumbles Pier18:30 Post-race party at Mumbles Pier

logistics

GETTING THERE

Car: Swansea is easily accessible from the M4. To reach the city centre from Carmarthen use junction 47 and from the Cardiff direction use junction 42.

Train: There is a train station in High Street which is within walking distance of the city centre. There are high-speed First Great Western trains run from London and frequent Arriva Wales trains running from west Wales, the Marches, the Midlands and the South West. For more information ring National Rail enquiries on 08457 484 950 or visit the National Rail enquiries website.

Coach and bus: Greyhound operate a frequent shuttle service between Cardiff, Swansea and Bristol airport. There are frequent National Express coaches to Swansea from all other principal towns in south and west Wales. The National Express also has links with London and Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Visit the National Express website or call 08705 808 080 or visit the Greyhound website.

Plane: the nearest airport is Cardiff International Airport - ring 01446 711 111 or visit the Cardiff Airport website. Swansea has its own airport, which is suitable for small aircraft. Call 01792 204 063 or visit the Swansea Airport website.

ACCOMMODATION

We suggest that competitors book accommodation near Swansea and The Mumbles. Registration, the race brief, the race finish and post-race party will be in this area, and there will be coaches from Mumbles to the race start on Saturday morning.

August is a busy time in Gower so accommodation will be in demand. Please book early to avoid disappointment.

REGISTRATION

Registration will take place between 16:00 and 18:30 on Friday 18th August at Swansea University Singleton Campus. We will be in the Faraday Building, labelled 8.1 on this campus map. Park in the parking area to the right after the main entrance and walk up the main drive to the principal Fulton House, then turn right and the Faraday Building is on the right.

If you do not bring these items with you, you will have to go and get them. You will not be allowed to register without them.

You will be issued with your race vests and swim caps during registration.

SAFETY BRIEF

The Safety Brief will be held at 19:00 on Friday 18th August at Swansea University Singleton Campus Faraday Building (directions as per registration). You MUST attend the Race Brief, where we will give you vital information about the course and race logistics.

RACE START

Teams will be driven by coach from Mumbles Pier to the race start. See the schedule for boarding times.

If possible, please leave your car at your accommodation and walk to Mumbles Pier. Otherwise there are several pay and display car parks close to the Pier on Mumbles Road, both along the seafront as you approach from Swansea and above the pier on the clifftop. Please don’t park in the Mumbles Pier car park itself as we need to consider other Pier users who will want to park during the day.

The actual race start area is above the Hillend Campsite, which charges for use of a beach car park a 5-minute walk from the Start. The road to Hillend is narrow, there is no turning space and the car park may be busy with surfers at this time of day, so we recommend that you do not plan to be dropped off by car, but use the coach provided.

Race Finish

The Breca Gower finish will be at Mumbles Pier. We will have a social zone set up and Mumbles Pier has a restaurant, café, bar and fish & chip shop. You will have access to your drop bags so that you can change and stay to relax and cheer teams over the finish line.

drop bags

You may leave a drop bag at Mumbles Pier before you board the coach. Please do not leave valuables in your bags; there will be event staff in the area but bags will not be attended at all times and you leave them at your own risk.

CUT OFFS

We use cut off times to make sure that everyone completes the race safely and before dark. Cut offs are also critical for our safety plan for boats and the medical team. Consequently, cut off times will be strictly enforced. If you miss a cut off and continue to race you will be disqualified from this and all future Breca Swimrun events.

Cut off times are enforced at checkpoints. Times are listed below.

BRECA Gower Checkpoints and nutrition

There are six checkpoints on the Breca Gower course, viewable on the Course Map: